Why is the NFL the best pro sport in the USA?

[Old Sweater]

MLB is a constant between something you should do daily like shaving and something you like to do daily like eating.

 

[boogiewithstu2007]

It’s part of the Fall, that has a big impact for me personally, but I think a lot of people appreciate that as well .. When the leaves start changing, football has arrived … Football also has a build up of drama, close games, last second drives where every play is big, last second field goals, drama filled …

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Football will always be #1 with me just in terms of sports love. But I've broken down the Big Four this way:
When it comes to watching it at the stadium, I prefer baseball and hockey. Watching these sports on TV tends to almost get on my nerves, they're almost tedious in their play.
When it comes to watching it on TV, I prefer football and basketball. Unless you have perfect seats, football is so much easier to follow on the telly. Same with basketball, those dudes move way too fast to follow at the stadium. TV does a much better job at doing this.

 

[Maximus Rex]

I'm not into MLB that much, I do find it boring. Its more fun at the stadium than on TV. I would never travel to another stadium for a MLB game. They have too many games IMO

I used to be a baseball fan much more when I was younger. I haven't been to any games in the last 5 years or so, but it's been enjoyable going to Three Rivers and PNC for the Pirates, Fenway, Wrigley Field, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and the Rockies' park. I've also been to a minor league game or two. Agree on too many games, but I've never regretted going to one.

 

[PDay8810]

I used to be a baseball fan much more when I was younger. I haven't been to any games in the last 5 years or so, but it's been enjoyable going to Three Rivers and PNC for the Pirates, Fenway, Wrigley Field, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and the Rockies' park. I've also been to a minor league game or two. Agree on too many games, but I've never regretted going to one.

I'm with you.

I took three grandsons to the Rangers game two weeks ago, sat 18 rows up from third base, $80per, all in for $360. Big time memories for all. Good seats at a Cowboy game woulda been $700 per ticket.

Baseball remains a close second for me.

 

[Xeliou66]

Football will always be #1 with me just in terms of sports love. But I've broken down the Big Four this way:
When it comes to watching it at the stadium, I prefer baseball and hockey. Watching these sports on TV tends to almost get on my nerves, they're almost tedious in their play.
When it comes to watching it on TV, I prefer football and basketball. Unless you have perfect seats, football is so much easier to follow on the telly. Same with basketball, those dudes move way too fast to follow at the stadium. TV does a much better job at doing this.

I pretty much agree with this, although I enjoy baseball on tv as well. I never attend football or basketball games, they are much more enjoyable to watch on tv, easier to keep up with everything going on. I love attending baseball games and hope to see every stadium, baseball is just as enjoyable in person as on tv. I never watch hockey and don’t care about it, but I did attend a hockey game once when I was younger when Atlanta had an NHL team and I enjoyed it, so yeah it’s probably better in person.

And yeah football is by far my favorite sport, absolutely love it, the combination of mental strategy plus physical skill makes it very compelling, and just about every game matters. NFL Sundays are probably my favorite days of the year. I follow 4 sports very closely - NFL, college football, MLB and college basketball. On occasion I watch NBA. When it comes to attending a sport in person, baseball is far and away my favorite.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

I'm with you.

I took three grandsons to the Rangers game two weeks ago, sat 18 rows up from third base, $80per, all in for $360. Big time memories for all. Good seats at a Cowboy game woulda been $700 per ticket.

Baseball remains a close second for me.

Baseball is way more accessible for families than a football game. And you have many more opportunities to see a game at another stadium. Whenever I travel, I always check to see if the local baseball team is in town and if I'll have time to catch a game. Cheap seats are fine, I'll only be out 15-20 bucks at most places. Football tickets are nearly impossible to get, no matter where the stadium.

 

[Brees#1]

The NFL has one game a week for each team and there is more simplicity. NBA and MLB have intangibles on top of playing too many games. I hear NBC now is doing the NBA, but for a long time it was ABC after February and cable everywhere else. MLB is on Fox only on weekends, and usually Saturday but not the whole season. Because of that it was easier to just follow the NFL more. Fantasy is also much more fun in NFL while in MLB you need 100 lineups.

 

[Debbie Does]

Hockey and MLB baseball are great live. I used to go to Red Sox games at Fenway just for the joy of old seats, green grass, blue skies, hot dogs and beer. Even after they were mathematically eliminated, everyone was smiling and having a great time.

I went to a charity hockey game once. Ray Borque and his two sons were playing. After the game, we hung out for awhile and saw the players walking out of the rink, carrying their bags and sticks and loading them into their cars, just like I've done hundreds of times myself.

 

[Hbomb]

Hockey and MLB baseball are great live. I used to go to Red Sox games at Fenway just for the joy of old seats, green grass, blue skies, hot dogs and beer. Even after they were mathematically eliminated, everyone was smiling and having a great time.

I went to a charity hockey game once. Ray Borque and his two sons were playing. After the game, we hung out for awhile and saw the players walking out of the rink, carrying their bags and sticks and loading them into their cars, just like I've done hundreds of times myself.

Agree completely. Hockey best live. I’ve done all of the big four live and hockey rules.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

I’ve seen one baseball game live. 1972, Jarry park, Montreal vs Pittsburgh. Cost me $5 to sit in the left field bleachers.

That filled my baseball tanks right up to the tits. Won free tickets for 4 to a Mariners game and I gave them to my brother.

NFL is the only one of the “big 4” mentioned I follow these days and I’m happy as a clam watching on my 4K unit via Sunday Ticket.

 

[Picklerick 2.0]

I don't think there is a better sport to watch in the US than pro football. It's a game you can follow live or in person, it's not over saturated with too many games and the way it's set up with revenue sharing and the salary cap just makes it more competitive from top to bottom, and better to watch and be a fan.

Here are the reasons why I don't follow the other pro sports.

MLB - Too slow, the pace of that game just makes it boring to me. While I do enjoy going to a game in person, it's more about the atmosphere than the game. Watching it on TV is almost unbearable until the playoffs, but even then it's slow.

NHL - Fantastic game to go see in person, just too difficult to watch on TV. Unfortunately, where I grew up we didn't have a NHL franchise so I just never got into it. Have gone to a few games and they were awesome in person. The action away from the puck is all kinds of awesome, but you don't get a feel for the game on TV.

NBA - While I did enjoy going to the games in person, it's been a long time. They took too much defense out of the game and now it just seems to me like it's take it to the rack or kick and shoot a 3. Boring as hell and at this point in time too many fan boys that just follow 1 player as opposed to a team and I cannot stand those types.

Because each game matters so much because there are so few of them. Each NFL game is roughly the equivalent of 9-10 games in baseball and 5 games in basketball and hockey. Also the lead up is much greater because you have to wait all week with the anticipation building.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Because each game matters so much because there are so few of them. Each NFL game is roughly the equivalent of 9-10 games in baseball and 5 games in basketball and hockey. Also the lead up is much greater because you have to wait all week with the anticipation building.

And it was even more meaningful when they didn’t let as many playoff teams in as they do now.

 

[Picklerick 2.0]

wrong again

keep swinging

Who are the Texas rangers? Are they like the mavericks developmental team or something?

 

[PDay8810]

Who are the Texas rangers? Are they like the mavericks developmental team or something?

they won the championship and everything.

i don't follow pro basketball.

thanks

 

[Hank Kingsley]

i don't follow pro basketball.

Thump, thump, squeak, squeak, thump, squeak…. So irritating.

Ditto for NCAA hoops.

 

[dtgold88]

Thump, thump, squeak, squeak, thump, squeak…. So irritating.

Ditto for NCAA hoops.

is baseball better for you?

silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence...thud...silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence

 

[Moab]

is baseball better for you?

silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence...thud...silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence

Ken Burns mentioned that on Rogan 2 things about football and baseball. When people recall their first exposure to baseball it's usually along the lines of "my dad took me to a game" and football has 2 of the worst things about our society, violence and then a committee meeting.

I thought it was funny, but I'll still take football every day of the week.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

is baseball better for you?

silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence...thud...silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence

If I ever had a hard time falling asleep, I would just turn on a baseball game. But I sleep fine so I thankfully never watch any baseball.

 

[BigFin]

I went from being a huge NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, NCAABB fan to slowly dropping each one. The last time I watched any sports was an NFL game in December 2023.